We have received reports from our professional customers, who train many police and citizens; they tell us that in rapid fire combat style drills most people will shoot worse when they first install a red dot on their hand gun. They say it requires additional and specialized training and ability to be able to shoot a red dot equipped pistol as fast and as accurately as the Speed Sights. In contrast, whether you are a sharpshooter or a novice, Speed Sights can help you shoot better and faster out of the box. In fact, we are so confident that you’ll shoot better that we have a “shoot better or your money back” policy. If you’re not shooting better, then we don’t want your money.
Red Dot sight systems for pistols have become more and more popular. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Red Dots? How do Red Dots compare to Speed Sights, which are very different from legacy notch and post pistol sights? The shooter must also have the time to practice and the ability to rapidly bring the recoil under control in order to be able to safely and effectively use the potential of a Red Dot system on their pistol.
That is because the recoil after each shot makes the red “dot” disappear until the gun can be stabilized and the dot found again. In contrast, the Speed Sights NEVER “disappear”, even during actual shoot outs, as our customers have reported to us.
You can see the pros and cons of red dots versus iron sights for different shooters on this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtT4dd392wI&t=116s
…and on this video:
https://www.brighteon.com/6044930589001
Trying out a Red Dot system on your pistol can be misleading at first, in the sense that trying one at the range and shooting slowly at paper targets, it is easy to shoot a tight group. But handguns are ultimately owned and used to save lives in high stress situations where the lighting could be poor and where fractions of a second may mean the difference between life or death. The recoil after each shot makes the red “dot” disappear until the pistol can be stabilized and the dot found again.
In contrast, when you shoot a pistol with Speed Sights, they NEVER “disappear”, even during actual shoot outs, as our customers have reported to us.
Advantages of Red Dots
A bright, visible single point of aim tells you when you are on target.
This also allows the user to see easily if they pull the gun off target or shaking the gun.
(Speed Sights also give this important visual training feed back)
Disadvantages
The most serious issue is that each time the pistol recoils, the Red Dot “disappears”.
The shooter has to stabilize the pistol and wait for the Red Dot to reappear, then move it
back over the target or intended point of impact.
The frame of the Red Dot blocks or interferes with the field of view or peripheral vision.
If there are multiple threats at the same time, the frame might interfere with rapidly seeing and engaging a threat.
Being able to overcome that can depend on the ability of the shooter, hand strength and the time and money for practice.
How the capabilities of Speed Sights compare to a Red Dot system.
Speed Sights provide a completely open “field of view” that allows you to instantly see and track multiple threats.
Even with additional specialized training, some people may not have the physical strength or practice time to be able to control the recoil of their handgun where they can shoot a Red Dot as fast and as accurately as a set of Speed Sights.
When moving out to farther distances, the red dot of an optical sight begins to cover more and more of the target and precision begins to wane.
In contrast, the sharp tip of the Speed Sights always gives a reliable and precise indicator of where the bullet will
strike, regardless of the distance.
Speed Sights never “disappear” even during rapid fire, high stress, situations like actual gun fights.
Speed Sights have been “combat proven” as can be seen by reading the after action reports on our “Combat Reports” page
on our website.
